Prefix+Serial Number Ranges of
1948 and 1949 Ceylon BankNotes

Although Mr Tuan M. U. Sallay in his excellent 1986 book Sri Lanka Currency of Recent Times 1938-1985 published in Colombo by Central Bank of Sri Lanka, gave detailed range of prefix and Serial of most currency since 1909, the details of 1948 and 1949 issues is incomplete.
Serial Numbers exceeding that published are known and details of which ranges were used for Booklets and found with perforations on edge have not been found in records.

Sallay says I quote Some of the rupee one and rupees two notes were bound in booklets of 25 notes each and some of the rupees five in booklets of 20 notes each.

On the 5 Cent Note dated 1st January 1942 he says "No information regarding the quantity of notes so perforated are available" Please report prefix and Serial numbers of any 5 cent notes perforated in middle you have in your collection. Thanks

It is regretted that full details as regards the numbering of notes separating those issued loose and those issued in booklet form of the indents for 1948/1949 and 1949/1950 could not be traced, and therefore, not available for insertion. One has to bear in mind that 1949/1950 was the period the transition was at its peak and apparently the movement of files has resulted in some of them being misplaced. Though no records could be traced, a supplementary order, at least for the smaller denominations, had been placed in 1950 by the Board of Commissioners of Currency to meet the Central Bank requirements, until such time as it was in a position to put its own notes into circulation. This is obvious from the fact the last numbers of the Currency Board Notes put into Circulation according to the Notes Register are as follows :-

Re 1  Booklet B/7  611000
      loose   B/11 371000

Rs 2  Booklet E/54 695000
      loose   E/57 536000

Rs 5  Booklet G/48 533000
      loose   G/48 973000

Collectors have to work that out by collecting the Prefix+Serial Numbers on all the Ceylon Banknotes, with the 1948 and 1949 dates on them.

You too can Help

Please look at the Prefix of Ceylon BankNotes in your collection with year 1948 and 1949 date as listed below and Please report with Denomination, Date, Prefix+Serial number if the edge is perforated or not, This page http://notes.lakdiva.org.lk/ccgc/serial_kgvi.html was updated with information of BankNotes Reported till 2020 July 31st

1949 Fractional Notes

Tuan Sallay does not list the 1st December 1949 date for both 25 cents note and 50 cents note.
The end of the 1st June 1948 25 cent, as stated by Sallay also appears to be in error.
Please report with image if possible any note with Serial larger than Last known given in italics in table below. Thanks.

Denomin.	Date on BankNote	First Serial#	Last Serial # known	Mintage in K
25 Cents	1ST JUNE 1948	A/57 184001	A/61 108188	'>3924<4473'
25 Cents	1ST DECEMBER 1949	A/61 657816	A/71 535459	'>9719'
50 Cents	1ST JUNE 1948	A/38 357001	A/47 537389	9286
50 Cents	1ST DECEMBER 1949	A/47 643001	A/50 975268	'>3332'

1948 and 1949 Rs 1, Rs 2 and Rs 5 denominations

Tuan Sallay does not list which range of notes were bound in books and edge is found perforated for 1948 & 1949 Rs 1 notes, Rs 2 notes and Rs 5 notes.
Please report any note Date Serial number and edge of 1948 and 1949 notes in your collection to add to the Tabulation and refine the boundaries given in italic in table and confirm those assumed from available documentation. Thanks.

Denomin.	Date on BankNote	First Serial # known	Last Serial # known	Mintage in K	Booklets
1 Rupee	1ST JUNE 1948	A/81 543001	A/84 419677	'>2876<3063'	'>115K'
1 Rupee	1ST JUNE 1948	A/84 606724	A/91 543000	'>6937<7124'
1 Rupee	1ST MARCH 1949	A/91 543001	A/95 093684	'>3550<4799'	'>142K'
1 Rupee	1ST MARCH 1949	A/96 342423	A/99 1000000	'>3658<4907'
1 Rupee	1ST MARCH 1949	B/1 000001	B/4 543000	3543
1 Rupee	1ST MARCH 1949	B/4 543001	B/7 611000	2945	117.8K
1 Rupee	1ST MARCH 1949	B/7 684996	B/11 371000	'>3687'

2 Rupees	1ST JUNE 1948	E/40 690001	E/41 463445	'> 773<1781'	'> 31K'
2 Rupees	1ST JUNE 1948	E/42 471716	E/46 690000	'>4219<5227'
2 Rupees	1ST MARCH 1949	E/46 690001	E/47 489917	'> 799<1002'	'> 32K'
2 Rupees	1ST MARCH 1949	E/47 692441	E/52 690000	'>4998<5201'
2 Rupees	1ST MARCH 1949	E/52 690001	E/54 695000	2005	80.2K
2 Rupees	1ST MARCH 1949	E/54 953365	E/57 536000	'>2583'

5 Rupees	1ST JUNE 1948	G/41 859001	G/42 849246	' >990<1274'	'> 37K'
5 Rupees	1ST JUNE 1948	G/43 133897	G/45 859000	'>2726<3010'
5 Rupees	1ST MARCH 1949	G/45 859001	G/47 359000	1500	75K
5 Rupees	1ST MARCH 1949	G/47 359001	G/48 533000	1174	58.7K
5 Rupees	1ST MARCH 1949	G/48 550063	G/48 973000	'>423'

All notes have Signatures of Commissioners of Currency C. E. Jones and T. D. Perera

Comments

Above breaks are subject to correction if conflicting notes with or without perforations are found.
It was setup on 2019 December 27th using serial numbers of Ceylon 1948 and 1949 banknotes images found online both in Auctions and various collections and archives, and few from the lakdiva.org Banknote collection added to information published by Tuan Sallay.
Images of notes posted online may have had the perforations lost in the resolution or clipped and look like straight-edge.

Please join us and contribute if you can help.
I will acknowledge any contributions which refine or correct the table above.

I thank Larry Smulcz (IBNS #2619) who is a collector of World War II fiscal item for his contributions.

Email me at kavanr @ gmail.com or SMS me at +94775419494 or +94717072020

Part of notes.lakdiva.org.lk a website for
Banknotes of Ceylon and Sri Lanka since 1785.

Prefix+Serial Number Ranges of 1948 and 1949 Ceylon BankNotes

You too can Help

1949 Fractional Notes

1948 and 1949 Rs 1, Rs 2 and Rs 5 denominations

Prefix+Serial Number Ranges of
1948 and 1949 Ceylon BankNotes